Opposing more than one monthly pension to the MLAs and former MLAs, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs have demanded for ‘One MLA-One Pension’ rule.
A delegation of AAP MLAs, led by the Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, on Tuesday handed over a memorandum to Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh.
Through the memorandum, AAP MLAs opposed more than one monthly pension for MLAs or former MLAs, who had become legislators more than once stating that such financial gain in the name of increments etc, was morally and theoretically wrong. “Therefore, a MLA should be given the same pension as a government employee, no matter if he had become MLA more than once,” they said.
Cheema said that the taxpayers have full control over the exchequer of Punjab and no individual has the right to misuse the tax paid by the taxpayers for the welfare of the country and Punjab in any way. “Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress Government had stopped the pensions of Punjab Government employees in the name of reforms in 2004, which was strongly opposed by the entire employees or pensioners’ community which continues till date,” he said.
The AAP leader questioned why the legislators did not remember various monthly pensions received by the MLAs or ex-MLAs in the name of increment while taking decisions like discontinuation of working class pensions. “Congress, SAD, and the BJP MLAs concerned should give the answer to the people,” he said, adding that all AAP MLAs were against more than one pension rule per MLA.